Office Of The Immigration Services Commissioner
The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) has published its annual report and accounts for 2022/2023.
As outlined in the report, during the 2022/2023 period:
- Demand for immigration advice has continued to grow and currently exceeds the availability of regulated advice.
- The regulation by the OISC of immigration advisers has seen a steady improvement in the quality of advice given.
- The current imbalance of supply and demand encourages those who seek to provide advice illegally, which often results in exploitation of vulnerable advice seekers.
- The level of complaints is comparable with previous years.
- The OISC has improved mechanisms to share intelligence with other agencies to detect and disrupt illegal advice.
- The OISC has establishment of three regional teams for better engagement with local communities.
The Immigration Services Commissioner John Tuckett said:
The ongoing changes to the immigration system has meant the demand for immigration advice has continued to grow. Fortunately, the number of people wishing to become immigration advisers is also rising.
However, the availability of the right kind of advice, in the right place and the right time, is still far below the levels of demand for what is needed across the United Kingdom.
A significant challenge for the future will be how to ensure the availability of immigration advice, through appropriate regulated channels, in ways that can meet the needs of those seeking advice.
The performance summary includes the following breakdown on the OISCs achievements during 2022/2023:
- 832 new adviser applications decided, including regulated advisers applying to raise levels.
- 70 investigations into complaints of illegal activity complete.
- 999 continued registration applications had been approved.
- 138 new organisation applications approved (plus 14 awaiting confirmation).
- 742 applicants sat competence assessments.
- 430 passed competence assessment.
- 193 applications from previously unregulated organisations.
- OISC initiated two prosecutions in 2021/22 and issues 11 formal warning.
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